HPLC-TOF/MS in rapid identification of chemical compositions in Xiaochaihu decoction

Research Progress on Quality Control Methods for Xiaochaihu Preparations

Xiaochaihu (XCH) is a classic Chinese medicine formula. XCH tablet, XCH granule, XCH capsule, and XCH effervescent tablet are included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In this review, the formula and quality standards of XCH preparations at home and abroad were compared. The differences in manufacturing process of XCH preparations are discussed. The progress of research on the qualitative identification, quantitative detection and fingerprint chromatogram/specific chromatogram of XCH preparations was reviewed. The characteristic components of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Zingibere Et Alumine and Jujubae Fructus was rarely analyzed for XCH preparations. It is suggested that the specificity of drug quality detection methods should be improved. Considering drug safety and drug efficacy, it is suggested to set the upper and lower limits of the content of saikosaponins. The standards for heavy metals and other limited items for XCH preparations are also suggested to be set.

Chemical and Absorption Signatures of Xiao Chai Hu Tang

RATIONALE

Xiao Chai Hu Tang (XCHT, Sho-saiko-to in Japanese) is a well-known medicine formula used in Asia for centuries. However, the quality control and the absorption of XCHT components are the major remaining concerns.. The study was to develop a sensitive and robust method to characterize the chemical components in XCHT and evaluate their absorptions.

METHODS

An ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS) was used to identify the compounds in XCHT. The Caco-2 cell culture model was employed to determine the absorption of the identified components.

RESULTS

The results showed that 109 compounds were identified including organic acids, flavonoids, saikosaponins, ginsenosides, licoricesaponins and gingerols. The absorption study showed that among those identified, 33 compounds have decent absorption permerbilities ranging from 1.46 ± 0.24×10-7 to 3.10±0.61×10-5 cm/sec. These compounds were classified as classes II and IV in the biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS).

CONCLUSIONS

These identified compounds could be used to characterize quality of XCHT and those absorbed compounds with decent permreabiliteis are the potential active components in XCHT. Future pharmacodynamics studies should focus on these absorbed compounds.

Developing an Absorption-Based Quality Control Method for Hu-Gan-Kang-Yuan Capsules by UFLC-QTOF-MS/MS Screening and HPLC-DAD Quantitative Determination

Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations (TCMPs) contain massive numbers of ingredients responsible for their multiple efficacies. An absorption–based quality control method for complicated TCMPs using Hu–gan–kang–yuan Capsule (HGKYC) as an example was developed. To select proper chemical markers for quality control of HGKYC, an ultra–fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time–off light mass spectrometry (UFLC–QTOF–MS/MS) method was used for the rapid separation and structural identification of the constituents in the HGKYC extract and the rat serum after oral administration of HGKYC. As a result, one hundred and seven prototype constituents including flavonoids, organic acid, phenylpropanoids, anthraquinones, saponins, alkaloids, terpenes, phenols and amino acids in HGKYC extract, and 43 compounds found in rat serum after oral administration of HGKYC were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized by comparing retention times and MS information with those of authentic standards or available literature references. Finally, a simple, low–cost and effective method of simultaneous determination for baicalein, wogonin, paeonol and emodin in HGKYC was developed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector. In conclusion, an absorption–based quality control pattern was developed and successfully used for evaluating HGKYC.